The Master of Farwynd becomes a Boar Warrior

[Farwynd]

The Master Theodore entered through the front door,followed by the other royals looking bedraggled and tired,and looking forward to sitting down on something other than hard leather that moves up and down and sometimes side ways.They found their seats and sat willingly.Theo walked up to the Reverend Father Joseph Wynne of the Carmelite Friars of the Bell Towers of Ravenclaw Ridge who would be saying the service.
"Reverend Father,my Emily will be arriving soon."
"That is good my child,good."

[LaBohemia]

Elizavetta stood inside the chapel, after falling off her boar and fighting it.
"Daaamn its cold out there." she said shaking off the excessive snow. She saw her neice with a man.
"Why hello there Kittania!"

[Pannonia-Glucksberg]

"Hello Aunty,this is Graham,Theodore brother,he showed me a quicker way here,the friary is very cold isn't it."

[Samurkhan]

Quintus, who had spent the majority of his life in the desert, was convinced he would die from the cold.

"How can you live in such a place...it seems completely inhospitable."

[Farwynd]

"Ah my friend the cold might not be your friend but the cold is the enemy of our enemies and so our greatest ally,and so we thank it for we are regularly at war."he looked at Quintus squarely in the eyes."And I would prefer to be cold rather than as hot as a roasted duck on a spit in your sandy sandy nation.Plus you get used to it."he said smiling.

[Farwynd]

The other Earls and Countesses arrived and sat down in the pews.
"Let us begin."called Reverend Father Wynne.

Suddenly the organ began playing the universally known wedding anthem,
"Here Comes The Bride"and the doors are opened.Down strides,Honour Anna and Honour Plumina of House Swann,then down strides Honour Asha and Honour Mya of House Drumm.Theodore looks sideways at Honour Graham Drumm and Honour Martin Swann,his two bestmen who grin back at him.Then through the door comes Mistress Emily,escorted by her lord father,Earl Morleep Swann,she moved elegantly up the aisle.Her beauty shone light a beacon in the dark,a patch of green in an neverending snowy landscape,a swan among vultures.Her gown of white flowing along behind her,with tinyflakes of snow that had just fallen.Her blond hair shone like thousands of little diamonds in her hair,her purple eyes glistened with unshed tears of happiness and her beautiful face,angelic.She smiled an exquisite smile at him and he smiled back,thinking;do I deserve such a perfect wife?
She walked up beside him and turned to her father,kissed him on the cheek and turned back to the friar.
"We have come here today to bring,Theodore Balon Drumm,Master of Stonehelm and Farwynd and Emily Kate Swann,Mistress of Freylake in holy matrimony.Let us begin with the exchanging of the vows."

The vows were read.

"Do you Theodore Drumm,take Emily Swann for your wife,to love and to hold,through sickness and health,till death do you part?"
"I do."
"Do you Emily Swann take Theodore Drumm for your husband,to love and to hold, through sickness and health,till death do you part?"
"I do."
"Then I pronounce you man and wife,therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.You may kiss the bride!"
He grabbed her around the waist,pulled her closer and kissed her passionately while the congregation clapped and wolf whistled.They turned towards the crowd and grinned.They ran down the aisle,all eyes following them,through the doors and out into the courtyard.

[Pannonia-Glucksberg]

Queen Kittania walked out behind everyone else,staying behind to talk to Graham.
"Graham would you like to go somewhere tomorrow?"
"Of cource,Kitty.Anytime you choose anywhere you please."
They left together through the doors.He took his leave of her to talk to a relative,and she went over to Theodore and Emily.
"Congratulations,you'll be a great couple,you just fit together."
"Thank you,Kittania."

[Farwynd]

"Oh,I know what you mean,"said Emily,"When I met Theo,when he was fostered with his brother and sisters at Freylake,we became best friends,imediately."
"We loved each other,from that day,doing everything together, playing, hiding, adventuring into the unknown of the forest."
"Really.I didn't know you knew each other that long."
"Yes,he came to us during the Five Years War."
"But that war only finished about a year ago."
"Yes,we met when we were eight and nine."
"But you are so young for such love."
"Love acted fast for us.We loved each other first as siblings,then as lovers,without the sex."
"You really love each other."
"Yup."

[Farwynd]

The couple had their pictures taken and then they mounted their boars,Emily riding with Theodore who had arranged for a carraige to come and drive the couple back to the castle in style.They invited the whole friary to come and join in the festivities.They excepted graciously and walked down behind the train of boars.

The Hall of A Hundred Hearths had been transformed into a more elegant version of itself,with golden candelabras on the tables,snow roses in vases,the high seat,"The Snow Throne,was flanked by the rarely seen "Ice Throne" of the lord or lady consort was present beside it for the new couple.

[Farwynd]

The festivities began with the band beginning a fast tune and then everyone,man,woman and child no matter how high or how low sat beside each other and began to enjoy the party.Lord Earl Balon sat at the high table,looking out of place and bewildered by the events.He had been strange ever since the fall,talking to himself,talking to people long dead,wandering around the castle at night .He had even walked in on two servants having passionate sex and only left when they stared him away.The Lady Countess had started to talk to Theodore about him taking over while his father was unwell.
"Theo,your father has become a bit,a bit,you know a bit not with it.He doesn't even notice I'm around anymore.He talks to his grandfather,Philip and his far off cousin Lord Cragg,whom he sent into exile thirty years ago and now he repents to the man,when hes been dead for twenty four years."
"Maybe we should send him to the monastery to be looked after,so he will be at peace."
"Yes maybe,but quickly he worsens steadily.And when that happens you will become Lord Earl in all but name."
"Ok,I'll talk to the abbot the day after tomorrow,tonight we feast and celebrate our wedding."

Then he turned to Lady Slynt,beside him who was involved in a debate about the sheep of the year.

[Farwynd]

That night Theodore and Emily slept and the next morning they left for their honeymoon at the volcanic pools at Eldfell.They set off in the carraige towards the town of Stonehelm,where their boars were waiting for them to ride the rest of the way for carraiges are just for show and are untrustworthy in the snow and mountains of the land.They rode on and came to the stable.They descended from the carraige and mounted their quickly grown boars,Davon was Theos and Geldren was Emilies.They mounted and set off with their luggage safely attached to the boars.

They rode for a while,climbed mountains,ventured unsteady ledges,forged through mini icebeg filled rivers and trotted through peaceful forests.When suddenly Geldren let out a mighty wail and started to swing about and sudddenly both Emily and Theodore saw a big arrow in her side.They looked about anxiously and then just as Geldring fell down dead,Emily jumped on to Theos boar,bow and arrow ready for action.Then,arrows flew from every direction and fell in the grass,Davons saddle,a few more in Geldring and one in Theos fighting arm.Armed men in emblazoned tunics of an arrow struck raven;The Flemms.They started to close in on them and Davon,probably out of fear ran full force towards the nearest men,trampling and mauling the bowmen.The men who had jumped out of the way had already got their arrows ready as Davon and his passengers plowed through the forest.They galloped on and on until the could go no further for Theodore was nearly falling off the boar with pain and drowsiness;the arrow had been laced with poison.

Theo drifted in and out of consciousnesss,one minute looking up at his wife,a grimace on her beautiful face while trying to keep the poison from spreading,next looking up at stars as Emily spoke with a farmer,
"We must get him to your lord or some knight!He is gravely injured."
"We could bring him to Sirr....,"
he drifted back and forth for a day and a night.Then he awoke in a bed all bedecked in silks and satins.He saw a huge blood stain on the bed sheets and thought of the wound.He got up and walked towards the small oak door.He walked unsteadily and with a limp from which he could not remember getting.He walked out of the door stooping below its frame and walked down the stone corridor.He found a great hall,but it did not deserve the title of Great Hall for it sould barely fit fifty people and thankfully there was only six people in it.He looked around and saw that none were looking at him but at a map on the High Table.He shouted out a greeting but all he coud manage was a whispered "Hallo."Though none the less they looked up at him with looks of shock.He saw now who was there.First was his wife,Emily looking much older than she was,then there was a knight in full battle armour,about twenty with a nice beard,then there was a wizened old man also in armour but though the younger mans armour was pristine and well cared for,while this knights armour was scarred and dented from multiple battles.Then he saw a serving maid with a tray and some cups,who looked the most to faint from seeing Theodore.There was a herald from Stonehelm with the bronze tower on green,looking down at him with a look of disdain.There was also a kind looking old woman in the robes a healer,looking very pleased with herself.

"Theodore you shouldn't be up,the poison of the arrow will weaken you more."said Emily,recovering from her shock
"I am alright.I think."he whispered,"Though I could do with a drink,I'm parched."
They gathered crowd looked at the healer who nodded and looked at the maid.The maid scurried to him and handed him a cup of wine and scuttled away.
"Thank you.Now who are all these people,my swan."
"Theo these are your saviors,this is Sir Denis Hare,this is his castle"waving to the young knight,"This is Sir Uther Moon,a brave knight who lead us to the castle and fought off the bandit gang,who attacked while you were in fever.This is Bernard of Stonehelm,a herald,and this is your savior most of all it appears,for Cyntia,here healed you back to health."
"I thank you,with my deepest being."
"I need no thanks,milord,Lord Earl."said Cyntia,"It is my job."
"Yes you needed us and we helped."intoned the deep voiced Sir Uther.
"Sorry,but did you just call me Lord Earl,I'm not Lord Earl ,I'm the heir to father."
"That is where I come to you milord.During your fever,I came and told your darling wife and these daring knights,that His Lordship,Lord Earl Balon Drumm of Stonehelm and Farwynd,Great Drumm.."
"Get on with it please,Bernie."said Sir Uther.
"Yes sorry,His Lordship is dead.He died in his bedd...."
"He can't be dead,how long have I been here?"
"Theo,you have been asleep for a week and a half."
"But,but,but,the Flemms,they attacked me and you and..."
"The Flemms have called all their knights to Raven Eyrie.They are attacking the minor lords and knights,who were rallying to your father,and then when he died,they attcked Freylake Tower,thinking you dead.Theo,they killed my family."here she broke down and wept,sobbing sorrowful tears.
"Then maybe its time that the dead rises and kills those sons of bitches.The War is on."

[Farwynd]

During the week that Theo had been unconscious,the lords still loyal to the Drumms had heard that Theodore and Emily were at Hare Tower and so they either sent their sons and daughters or came themselves to clarify that their house was still loyal to the Drumms of Stonehelm.First came Earl Hogg,who had hurried home to his castle after to the wedding,next came Countess Slynt and her husband Lord Slynt.Next came Earl Rudd and his wife and his offspring,to declare allegiance.The Rudds were Emilies cousins through her mother,Lady Swann and Earl Rudd were siblings.

The twins of Prunewald Lake,the children of Master and Mistress Watt,descended from the oldest living earl or countess in Farwynd,at a hundred and five,Earl Eddard Watt was the only known person in The League to have had twelve wives in the space of seventy years and have 23 sons and seven daughters.The Master Mark Watt was a very patient man indeed.Countess Monk came at first light one morning with an entourage of warrior clergy,the name certainly suited.Ser Grant Hayward,came with his entire staff and family what with his newly granted towerhouse been burnt to the ground two nights before.Others came and went but one stood out from the rest.

One night during a feast,a knock came to the door and in walked a man,five foot tall and thin as a whicket.He came to the front of the high table and bowed lower than the man looked able.He stood and looked into the eyes of the new Lord Earl.During this event heads had turned and small children were staring wide eyed at him and his wife and bdy guard.The music had not stopped but the musicians were more interested in the visitor than their music.Theo had been in a conversation with Ser Hare and he looked up when he saw the man walking in.He turned quickly to Sir Hare and asked,
"Whos that milord Hare?"
"Earl Havelock Reed,crannogers,from down south,with Adriana and their ancient bodyguard,Sir Kenneth Braithwaite.They live in and on the Greywater Bog,proud people.They're supposed to eat frogs and toads and hunt out bog birds."
"A lot to say about them?How do you know them?"
"I lived stayed at Reed Hold,when I was a boy of twelve."
"Do they eat frogs?"Theodore said quietly as the tall man quickly neared the table."
"No."said Sir Hare.
Suddenly,"Hail,Lord Earl Theodore.I,Earl Havelock Reed,second of the name,Earl of Greywater Bog,do pledge my family and our lands and people to Lord Earl Theodore Drumm,his lady wife Lady Countess Emily Drumm,and his future family.We do this to keep our bond of allegiance clean and untainted."
"Hail Earl Havelock Reed of Greywater.Greeting to you and your wife Adriana and your loyal guard Sir Kenneth.I take your pledge and give my own.To the people of Greywater Bog,its families,with its mothers and its fathers,its children and its homes,I pledge on my life as Lord Earl of Farwynd,that I will protect your lands and people with the fullness of my ability and the strength in my bones."
"We thank you milord."
"Now come,sit,eat,drink,sing if you must,"said Theodore,smiling",but don't talk of war and battles and death.Tonight is a time of joy and celebration."
Later when the throngs were laughing and talking,Sir Hare said to Theo.
"You did well with Lord Reed,the crannogmen are tricky people."
"You get used to expectations of you after a while."

[Farwynd]

The Earls and Countesses,Knights and freemen had brought men with them,men that were willing to fight for the right to live in their own houses,in their own towns,with their wives and children without persecution from the Clemms and Flemms and if the rumours are true,The Clammps.The Clammps had joined the fray by the leadership of Widow Clammp as she was known.Holding four major castles and forts,The traitorous nobles had a small advantage since Clammp Cliff over looked the Forlorn Passage which divided the East from the West except for a small path going over and down the cliffs safely without trouble.The Flemms fort,Viney Court stood on a steep hill over looking the Plains of Hadrian and the Lord Clemm held the ancestral Swannish Freylake Tower and Bramble Castle.They held strategic positions but not impossible to over come.

The first thing decided to do was to strike out at Clammp Cliff with the Hogg,Slynt,Hare,Rudd,Drumm and Watt boars.The riders were to be given all the banners of the other lords to make the survivors if any think that all the lords had been present at the battle while the main party would be sent along the path to strike out at Freylake Tower during the night.When the two were taken then further planning would be made.The lords were going to strike out tonight and now the lords were readying their boars,their squire rushing to and fro,running from the smiths to the stable to the whore house to the tavern to the leather maker to the cooper.They ran out each others way to do the tasks quickly and properly.
That Night
The Lords rode out with their torches and standards raised high.Their heads held high.They rode along at great pace passing all the normal landmarks,gloomy in the torchlight.They hurried on and suddenly they stopped.The leaders looked bade fair well and luck and off they went again.The Cliff raiders to the right,the Freylake takers to the left.They climbed their cliffs and rode on.Theodore suddenly sighted the fort a top the cliff edge and ordered the torches be quenched.They rode on with care and rode silently through the portcullis,foolishly left open.They trotted in and looked around,a cat scurried accross the street and hissed at them.Suddenly the portcullis dropped and out stepped from the gatehouse atop the wall,an ancient woman,bent with age, leaning on her battle axe like a cane.
"Well,well well,if it isn't his lordship,the so called Lord Earl of Farwynd.Now here was I wondering if you'd come at all."

[Farwynd]

Theodore looked closer at his oppressors face but could not make out her face for the darkness of the night.
"Ah,Lord Drumm do you not recognise me even in this light.Maybe I should help you a bit."
She lit a torch with a match and suddenly her wrinkled old face was lit up in a sickly glow.She turned her face mockingly to show her full face.Suddenly Theodore recognised the woman and thought of times of sadness and bitterness.
"Ah,it is good to see you Lady Clammp,you are looking wonderfu as usual."
"Oh cut the shit.You know and I know I look like crap.Wrinkles here,creases there and signs of old age scarred on my face."
"Ah but though outside shows a sickly old woman,but inside holds a warrioress a hundred years younger."
"I'm only eighty seven,you little whipper snapper.And back to business,you know why I'm here and why I'm starting a war.A war I know in my heart and soul that I cannot win."
"Then don't."
"That I cannot do I'm afraid.If my late husband,Bernard,was still alive,he would be starting ths war and not me.Even you know why I'm here,your're old enough."
During the Five Years War,a civil war not so long ago,Brigitte Clammp lost five sons, Hector, Aston, Terrence, Bernard Jnr.And so Clammp Cliff will have no more Clammps.When civil wars are started by the ruler and won,noble families usually die from the war,by its heirs being killed.
"What happened then should not be repeated."

[Farwynd]

"I'm afraid its too late,Drumm.The war is on the Flemms and Clemms would get me if I joined you and you'll get me if I stay with them."
"I can say that you lost here Lady Clammp.We can pretend."
"No,I'm to fight for the Clammps."
"Then so be it."

Suddenly she disappeared into the shadows.A few seconds later the Portcullis closed down and killed two young squires who were waiting under it.Theodore and the others were trapped inside the walls of Clammp Cliff while the traitorous army was outside under the control of widow Clammp and Sir Marmaduke Fellow.They commanded two hundred archers and twenty catapults.When the portcullis closed they readied their bows and put boulders on the catapults.When Widow Clammp arrived they were waiting for her signal which was a shot into the castle walls.
Meanwhile the patriots were readying their own defences,they ran to and fro across the fortress.They ran into houses and shops,they ran into the tavern and into the towerhouse.Suddenly a shout came up from a lowly squire and he ran to Theodore and told him of the miraclous news.
"Meelord,I have found a postern gate,its open.The stupid Clammps,they left it open."
"Don't you call the Clammps stupid boy,they are a brave and noble people."
"No they aren't their thick and spineless."
Theodore then gave him a look that sent him scurrying to his liege-knight.He rallied the lords and troops and quickly but quietly they escaped from the fortress.
By the time Widow Clammp had shot her arrow,the patriots were gone.After the shooting and no reply came,Sir Fellows came and told her they had escaped,she let out a roar like no other,but inside she was glad and happy.
Later when Theo looked back on the events he knew which side the old lady was really on.

[Farwynd]

Meanwhile,during the events at Clammp Cliff,Lady Countess Emily led the group towards Freylake Tower and its domains.They continued on from where the two groups had departed and went on through the hills and forests until they came upon the lake.From across the lake they could see the burning ruins of the tow and the half demolished tower house.They hurried on through the woods around the lake and slowly crept up on the campsite.At a safe distance they made camp and made their plans.When the plans were made they rested and set out guards and readied themselves for the morning.
When morning came they readied their weapons and harnessed the boars,they sharpened their blades and polished their armor.They mounted and formed a strategic position.Then a score of knights blew their heraldic horns and the whole army charged forward.They startled the traitors and trampled the foolish who didn't get out of the way.The Oathbreakers surged forward striking and killing the enemy,then came the Grudgebearers and so on until onl the squires and acolytes of the boar knighthood were left running in with heavy swords fitted for men thrice their age.Lady Drumm rode straight through the crowd killing all in her way.She had a mission and no one was going to stop her.She swung and twisted and hit and chopped till she came to the remains of her old castle.Their waere men inside,shouting and drinking,oblivious to the battle outside.She dismounted and ran inside.

"Well lookey here,if it isn't Miz Swann.We've been looking for you,we have."shouted a drunk knight.
"Yeah,we got bored of your sisters,and we went looking for you.when we could'nt find you,we fucked them some more."replied an obese man she knew as Lord Clemm.
"Well why don't you come and get me then,and you can fuck me as well."
But even in is brain adled state,Earl Clemm had thought the same thing.He had his axe in his hand and was about to swing it when Emily sliced off his hard dick and stuck him in the belly in two swift movements.He swayed for a while,as if confused about what had happened and then fell like bag of bricks into the fire.

"Now does anyone else want to try and fuck me?"she said with a grim smile.
At that all the men in the building picked up their weapons and rushed to try and out man her.She danced in between them slicing and dicing,cutting throats like a water dancer while they tried cutting her clothes.She even noticed before she killed one that he had one hand on his dick and one on his sword.
"No,"she said looking around what once was the Great Hall,"well that doesnt matter,I prefer being a one lord earl gal."

She raced over to the dungeon door and killed the guard.She burst open the door and ran down with all haste.She came upon the cells and looked in seeing her old friends mainly old women and old men,for the young men had been killed and the young women taken to the soldiers tents.Suddenly she came across a dank and dirty cell,and barely even noticed her little sisters and her mother.Plumina was covered in dirt and was half naked,Anna was fully naked but strangely clean and her mother Rosaley was the only one awake.The others were exhausted from their duty ,she suddenly sat up and stared at her in amazement.
"My dear Emiley,is that you,is that really you?"
"Yes mother,its me and I'm going to get you out of here."
She quickly got the keys that were hanging on the wall and opened all the cell doors and helped all the elderly people up.She gave them the wardens food and they ate quickly but sparsely for thy could not consume much for they had not seen food n days,the richness would make them sick.They climbed the steps and opened the door.The battle was over already,with the patriots killing the traitorous wounded.The leading lords came to her and told her the cassaulties and losses and also the gains.
"We found half the lords and major knights dead in the towerhouse milady,Lord Clemms was even roasting on his fire."
"Yes I know,I was there."That was all she said of the matter and they asked no questions

[Farwynd]

They set up camp and set a guard out to secure the area,searching for any stragglers who had run away from the fray.The hungry were fed and the weary were rested,the sick were tended to and the deceased were buried with due respect.The able set about fixing the buildings,finding lost heirlooms of the people,finding the remaining food and repairing the Tower house,for in the event of an attack then they would have a more defencive structure than the church hall.So work fully began in the morning and the reports were sent to Hare Hall,the command centre of the current sitution.If Hare Hall is attacked and taken,then all orders and command will be taken by Stonehelm.

[Farwynd]

Theodore and his men marched throughout the night and morning and reached Freylake Tower in a buzz of work,though the town and buildings had been destroyed,the people had forged on trying not to think of their loss and try and think on the work at hand.They marched through the ruined buildings and dismounted at the recently repaired stables.Theodore and the lords entered the currently under reconstruction castle.They walked in and were met by the other lords walking out with anger on their faces.He noticed two things about the group;one was that Emily wasn't in the group and two that Lord Reed wasn't in the group.Inside Emily was sitting at the head of the table with Lord Reed at her right and Sir Hare at her left.
"Whats the matter with the others?",exclaimed Theo,
"They openly insulted Havelock and Denis,saying that they were not worthy to sit at the head of the table with the Lady Countess.They called them,The Frog Lord and the Rabbit Knight."
"There is no worthiness in war,there is only bravery."

[Farwynd]

"Now tell me of the battle."
"Well The Clemms are dead,well all the ones that were here.I think most of their minor lords and knights were here and dead."
"Well then,if the Clemms are dead,I'd better do something with his lands and profits."he thought for a while and then spoke again,"Sir Denis,call the local shield maker and the herald of the town quickly to here at all haste,Emily do you know their names?"
"Yes Micheal Bellows is the shield maker and the herald is Vincent Jennet."
"Call them at once!"
"At once me lord."he said as he scurried off wondering what he would do if they were dead."

"Lord Reed,what are the numbers remaining?"
"Out of 200 Clemms soldiers,forty seven remain in captivity.From 400 of our men,375 remain."
"Those are good numbers."
Just then Sir Hare ran in looking worried with a wounded blacksmith.
"This is Grant Bellows,the shield makers brother.The herald is mortally wounded and Micheal is dead."
"Can you make a shield quickly,Mister Bellows.If you can there'll be a Freemanship in it for you and your sons shall be squired."
"Yes milord,thankee milord."
"Sir Denis,come here."
The knight did so.
"Kneel."
The knight did so.
"By the power in me,by the Lord of Heaven and Earth,I create you Lord Denis Hare of the realm.This Lordship shall be passed down to your children and your childrens children and their children until the end of time.Rise and create your sigil."
"Thank you milord,thank you."
"Say nothing to the others,I wish to see their faces when I tell them your a lord and they don't get Clemms lands.Go now and work in secret.Dress for a feast tonight."

[Farwynd]

During the rest of the day,the workers had fully completed the castle,for the traitorous lords had wanted a regal and not had destroyed place to live during their time there.The feast was outside none the less for the people to eat with the lords in celebration of the repairs and life.Theodore and Emily sat in their rightful places at the high table with Lord Denis Hare,looking very noble in a new doublet and breeches and a newly forged blade,at Theo's right and Lord Havelock Reed with his doublet with the Reed Badger emblazoned on it,at Emily's left.They were being served duck when suddenly a mob of lords came up to the high table and demanded,
"Milord,I must say that these two men,"he spat out the word with the venom of the snakes on his own doublet,"should not be sitting at your side,it should be one of your lords,not a knight and a bogman."
"How dare you insult my must noble friends.And might I remind you,Lord Fell,that while Lord Reed has the longest traceable ancestral heritage in this land,even more so than the Drumms,while the Fells had to buy their lordship half a century ago.And as for Lord Hare he ...."
"Lord Hare,Lord Hare,you must be joking me.He's a hedge knight nothing more,and now your calling him Lord.And Frog-biter over there has probably the least noble family in the world."
"How dare you!You come in here and demand that you sit at my right and probably ask for Clemms lands.Well Clemms lands and all its profits are rewarded to Lord Hare.And now to you I think that your family doesn't deserve your lands,I have half a mind to confiscate them for treason and give them to as you call them "hedge knights",but I call them brave,braver than any lord here."
"Oh please milord I did not mean to be disrespectful to Your Lordships."said the now down hearted Lord Fell,bowing deeply to Lord Hare,Lord Reed and then even deeper to Theo.
The other lords backed away,trying not to be seem for fear of being accused of treason and their lands and titles confiscated.
During all this,Havelock just stared his cold stare at the backing away and continued with his meal.Denis had looked with fury when they insulted them,but when the young lord earl had bashed the lords hope,he looked on with mirth and joy.The peasants looked up when the whole thing started and watched it as if they were watching a play.
"Now where was I?Oh yes show me your new sigil Denis."said Theodore.
"Of course milord."smiling,he picked up a large iron bound shield from behind his chair with a hare standing on its hind legs on a dead fox.
"Its brilliant,absolutely beautiful."

[Farwynd]

The day after,the Lords Drumm,Hare,Reed,Fell,Hogg,Slynt,Hare,Rudd,Bludd and Watt and others rode out of the enclosure and set off to the fortress of the Flemms,Viney Court.They had left a small garrison held by Emily and some knights.The work was progressing quickly and soon the area would look just as it had before the war,but in the hearts of the people they knew they would never forget the Battle of Freylake.Those who were raped and tortured,beaten beyond recognition,those who were starved and nearly died and the children who were now orphans,waifs and strays.They were the people who would never forget the War of The Lily.

They set off,gathering knights at their castles and towers,their forts and citadels.They came,bringing food and men.They carried on the road for they knew that this horrible war had to stop.
They made camp within sight of the banner of the Flemms upon the mountain fortress tower.That night the lords gathered in the main tent and made plans,
"We should climb the cliffs."shouted Lord Hogg.
"And how are you going to get up their you old pig,carried."demanded Lord Fell.
"Stop it,stop arguing.That is a good idea."said Lord Hare,"We could distract them by pretending to attack the first gate up.While during the night the strongest and fiercest of the army and knights climb quickly up the cliff."
"The cliff is huge,it would take at least a day to climb it."replied Lord Slynt.
"We shall give them food then."
"Maybe we should let them climb up to the point of the cliff that runs parralel to the second gatehouse.They can run in while they are sleeping and kill them.Then we'll have a foot hole in the defence.They take their clothes and pretend to be guards and then when they are replaced we will kill the other guards in the other two gatehouses."said Lord Reed.
"That is a good plan,Havelock."said most of the lords excluding Fell.
"Then we will send up more of the men and pretend they're guards too.They let us in and the war is won."

So the plan was put into action,the night after the plans were made,thirty fierce warriors quickly ran to the face of the cliff and started to climb.They climbed until they were parralel to the second gatehouse up to the mountain.They rushed in and as planned found the guards all asleep,slit their throats and took their uniforms.Then disguised as the Flemmish guards,they went up to the top most gatehouse and killed them.
During the night of the second invasion the next thirty men climbed and killed the next guards,took their place and went down to the first gatehouse and killed the guards there.They opened the portcullis quietly and let the patriots in.They quickly but quietly climbed the steps to next portcullis,the procedure was repeated and set off again up the mountain.The portcullis opened again at the top and the battle was theirs.

Before the battle,Theodore said,
"No raping,killing of children or women,priests or peasants.Because we would only be like them."
The knights and footmen marched towards the village.They broke into homes and killed the men and adolescent boys.The barracks was set alight and the lookouts were burned to the ground.The lords set off to the castle where the traitors were sleeping.They woke them,bound them and gagged them.They tied them to chairs and threw them off the cliffs.But suddenly the son of Lord Flemm,jumped out and stabbed Theodore in the chest.Theodore fell to the ground in agony and so did the young Master,a sword in his chest,his hand in position to strike again.Theodore looked up and saw a knight,in an unknown arms standing over him,bloody sword in hand.
"Thank you,"whisered Theodore before he fainted.
The War was won.

[Farwynd]

The army rode back to Stonehelm,where Emily was waiting for them.An announcement was helm from the balcony of the castle and the whole country came to see it.

"During this War,many many people died.They were not just the soldiers of the couragous armies for they were the very people of Farwynd.Our people has suffered enough of this constant warring beteen the earls and countesses,between the knights and freemen.
We are sick of the death and destruction by these evil beings,bringing their inocent people to the slaughter,just for some land and moneys,for titles of nobility,but I say that if these men and women bring us to war then what they recieve from success is not noble like the titles that they seek or just like the powers they wish to use.As of this day all minor wars,vendettas,battles,coup d'etat and assaults are illegal by the penalty of death.And are seen as acts of high treason against the Great Earldom.
From today changes will be made,we shall be more civilised to each other and gather technology from our benevolent neighbours,and we shall become better.Our lands shall not need oxen to pull our ploughs,our bodies shall be clothed in the clothes of our ancestors,but clothed in the fashions of the modern era.We shall be left in the dark for fear of seeing the light."

Theodore stood ,slightly to the left from the injury.The crowd cheered and applauded.He stood and waved at them and went back inside.
That night he gave out the honours of war;titles,honours,lands and money to the brave and the family of the deceased.The hearld called them up one by one;
"His Grace calls,Sir Isaac Loftus,the brave knight who struck the offending soldier who attacked and injured His Grace."at this the whole castle exploded in applause for the young knight who had saved their ruler from certain death.A young knight about the age of twenty five stood and strode meekly to the steps before the throne.He stood before Theodore and knelt.
"To you my saviour,Sir Isaac,I give the title of Earl Loftus of the Northen Strand,Warden of The Icey Strait and Champion of The Lord Earl.You shall be given these lands and money to build a castle fit for said titles."
"I thank you for your generous gift milord."
"No thank you Lord Loftus."

"His Gracecalls,the now Lady Grace Loftus."Everyone looked around the room,confused why the Lord Earl would call the old woman.Suddenly an old woman stood,quiet shakiy and walked slowly to the steps.
"Bring,Lady Loftus a chair,please."said Theodore.
A page ran quickly for with an ancient armchair.
"Yes,milord."said the whisper of a voice of Lord Isaacs mother.
"I call you to my services if you would.I request your skills in advice on important matters.Will you take my offer of my Dusk?"
"Yes of course,milord.But why me?"
"I have heard of your great knowledge and wish it to be at my side during the years ahead."
"Yes of course."

"His Grace calls,Lord Havelock Reed of Greywater."
Lord Reed stood and walked quickly to the steps.
"Yes milord."
"To you my faithful servant,I give you the title of Lord of Bluejay Bay."
"But milord that is the lands of Lord Fell."
"Not anymore,I have been told he died in bed an hour ago due to a mortal wound and his heirs died in the Battle of the Eyrie."
"Thank you milord."

"His Grace calls,Mister Grant Bellows of Freylake Tower."
He also walked to the steps.
"As promised,I grant you the Freemanship,and as I'm feeling a bit you could say overjoyed with life,I give you the title of Earl Marshal,a hereditary title to be passed on to your children and your childrens childrens,till the end of time.It means you will be the man who designs the coats of arms for the new lords and knights.You shall be addressed Lord Bellows and have an estate in the mountains."
"Thank you milord.Thank you ever so much."
"Your welcome,old chap."

The night continued as so,titles given,estates distributed,money given.

[Farwynd]

A Year Later

Lord Earl Theodore had accpted the Crown and Scepter of Farwynd,less than a week and was getting dwon to his day to day duties,and he was very nervous in case he made a mistake.Since the great speech on the baclony,Theodore and Emily had gone on their long over due honey moon,leaving the running of the immediate country affairs to their Three High Lords and Three High Hours.These High Offices are held by the advisors to the Lord Earl,they never have any power except respect and respect held power.Their only power must be declared to the country and can ony be for a short time to the maximum of a month.
The Great Earldom was back to normal,well what was considered normal.After the War the people would not trust their lords,and would come to the Lord Earl if taxes were too high or the lord was being cruel to specific people,so the capital was all a buzz of activity with people coming to complain and rest a while until they returned.

The Hall of A Hundred Hearths,Stonehelm Castle.

Theo walked out into the Hall and walked towards the Earl's Throne.Emily was already there talking to a scribe with a long roll of parchment and quill.She quickly signed her consent and sat back in her Countessa's Throne.The sribe approached the Lord Earl as he walked.
"Milord,could you sign this please."
"What is it?"Theodore inquired.
"Ah nothing just....."here he drifted off muttering.
"Give it here,please."The sribe handed it over quickly and Theodore continued walking.
"Milord,Lord Noon,needs this signed now,it must be signed now."
"Writer,I might be young but I'm not nieve.I'm going to read it and your Lord Noon can take it up with me about this matter if it means so much."
"Yes milord,sorry milord."said the scribe backing away,bowing.
When the scribe was out of sight and hearing Emily said,
"You didn't need to do that it was a simple matter,you just had to sign the document."
"Its the principle,I'm the Lord Earl not Noon,and that sribe is taking libeties.What was the document about anyway?"
"Ah,just about decreasing the wall width and making houses out the stone."
"Ah haha."he called over another scribe and said,"Here scribe,burn this please and throw the ashes to the seven winds."
"Yes milord."he said hurrying away.
"Why are you burning it,it will cost us less to build the houses."
"We are not making the wall smaller,at this time when we are least strong after a war,is when the next one will come,when traitors arise and fight for the crown.That wall is our only defence for a while and then maybe when we are strong I will think about it,but not now."
"Ok,if you think so."
"Ok now whats next."
"You,my love are The Lord High Justice of The Realm,so on with the black robes and your wig,and into your hand goes the scepter of law."
"Great,and I forgot my robes,could you cover my love."smiling a begging smile.
"Not getting out it that easy come on robes on."

[Farwynd]

Theodore ran quickly back to his room still in te tower,called the Warden of The Wardrobe and asked for the ceremonial but vital robes of judgement.Grabbed the wig and ran back down to th Hall of A Hundred Hearths and sat down on the throne just for the judging to begin.

"Here Yee,Here Yee.His Grace,Lord Earl Theodore I,calls the weekly trials of the criminals of the Realm.Presenting His Lordship,Lord Isaac Loftus of The Northern Strand,First Lord and Noon,"in strode the same knight who had saved Theodore at the battle,in matching robes but of a sky blue hue and a whiter wig.
"Presenting Her Ladyship,Lady Grace Loftus,Second Lord and Dusk."in hobbled a small woman with a wooden stick,wearing black robes and a grey nearly black wig.
"Presenting,Her Ladyship Mistress Meera Reed of Greywater,Third Lord and Dawn,"in skipped a small girl,with hair as black as ravens feathers and robes of pinkish red and golden wig."
"Presenting,Her Ladyship,Lady Clammp,widow of Lord Clammp,Justice in Second."and finally in walked a fierce woman,bent with age,but with fire in her eyes,wearing identical robes to the Lord Earl.
The three Lords and Hours came and sat on Lady Countessa's right while Lady Clammp sat on the lone chair on the Lord Earl's left.

"Calling,The first prisoner."
Out of a hidden passage,a guard and a man in dull clothing,that looked familiar.
"Presenting,The Last of The Flemms,Zachary of The Eyrie."
"Ah,now I know who you are!My attacker."said Theo
"Yes,but do not be biased."
"Its going to be impossible not to be biased and am going to inflict upon him something worse than death.
"Lord Zachary Flemm,I declare that till the end of your days you shall be the Jester of Court and given the mock title of Lord for your disgraced lineage."

The duo walked back and quickly another guard and prisoner.
"Presenting,Sidney "Blackshade" Harrow,poisoner of Stonehelm,lunatic first class,believes himself to be Emperor of Icenberg,your most noble kinsman."

[Farwynd]

Theodore,paced the Hall and thought,suddenly in rode a band of envoys.They bowed to him and declared;
"Milord,Lord Earl Theodore I,Lord Earl of Farwynd,Earl of Stonehelm,Lord of The Iron Hills,Great Drumm and Lord of House Drumm of Stonehelm,General Grudgebearer,Admiral of The Icey Strait,we come to you from Sovereign Lord John Corvin,your distant cousin,and last of the Corvins.His Lordsip calls you to his court in River-Crossing.He is ill milord,very ill and wishes to talk to you personally and won't tell anyone else.I requests that you come imediately."
"Of course,of course.I remeber River-Crossing,when I was a lad,father brought us down there.I will go at once.You will travel with us.It has been years since I was there and don't know the road."
"Yes milord."
"Ok,Thomas Glass,go pack me my luggage."then looked at Emily,"Will you come,with me."
"Of course.Thomas,pack me one please too."
"Yes ma'am,yes milord."